Alison Ní Dhorchaidhe

*UCD:
BA: Joint majors: Modern Irish (including Classical and Old Irish) and English

Minors: Irish Folklore, Celtic Civilisations, Drama and Performance, Art History

MA: Modern Irish (including Classical Irish and Scottish Gaelic)

*(UHI) Sabhal Mòr Ostaig:
An Cùrsa Inntrigidh (completing Earrann 3)

*Yeats International Summer School:
2006-2009 (student and staff)
2011 (teacher and student)

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I'm a Masters graduate of Irish language and literature, currently completing an entry-level course for Scottish Gaelic and researching independently with a view to starting a PhD in Scottish and Celtic Studies within the next year.

My Masters thesis was an intertextual analysis of specific poems from Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill's poetry collection "Féar Suaithinseach" in relation to the two extant versions of the Táin Bó Cuailgne, as an enquiry into her motives for manipulating the language and themes of the pre-existing texts and for re-writing the myth. These were examined in relation to Jungian theories of symbols and archetypes.

The main research areas of interest to me are Irish and Scottish poetry, Irish and Scottish song and folk traditions, intertextuality, post-colonialism, tradition and influence, and (native) symbolism; I'm planning to focus particularly on the poetry of Somhairle MacGill-Eain (Sorley MacLean) and W. B. Yeats.

Aside from literature, I have also developed an interest in linguistics and the study of dialects. This is an extension of my passion for folklore, whether it comes in the form of songs, stories, local legends or proverbs. I'm planning to become involved in the preservation and promotion of Gaelic dialects and folklore in Argyll once I get to Scotland.

During the course of my Masters, I gave Irish language tutorials to first year BA students, which were organised in relation to the lectures on Modern Irish and Classical Irish literature, cultural background and heritage. I also have three months experience of teaching Irish in a secondary school, from first year up to sixth. In the future I would like to get a certificate for teaching a language to adults (Scottish Gaelic and Irish).

Last year's highlights: I worked with Tile Films as a contributor to the TG4 series "Cé a Chónaigh i Mo Theachsa"; gave the first Irish language (ab initio) workshops at the International Yeats Summer School; spoke on a symposium panel discussing Blogging in Irish at IMRAM Féile Litríochta.